St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-21
THE TORONTO RIOT.
The Chief of Police Says 1t Was
Not Serious.


Not Serious.
TORONTO, May 20.-The mayor has
received the following letter from Chief
of Police GrOSsett, in reference to the
attack on William O'Brien:
His Worship w. s. Rowland, Mayor
OF Toronto. SIR: have the honor to
furnish you with the following facts
relative to what transpired Wednesday
evening connected with Mr.. O'Brien.
| from which you will see that the police
department is in no blame for not pro-
vidlng adequate protection on that oc-
caslon. From what appeared in the
papers and through representations of a
New York reporter, who called at nv
office Wednesday morning, | was led to
believe that it was O'Brien's intention
to leave Toronto for the West the same
day. Accordingly gave directions to
have the necessary precaution taken to
insure his safe departure from the hotel
and railway station. When it was
found that both the outgoing trains had
left the union station without Mr..
O'Brien, the officer in charge of the
men concluding there was no further
need of their services, sent them back
to their divisions. Two men. how
ever, were stationed at the hotel and
patrol sergeant was in the Immediate
neighborhood. Shortly after o'clock
Mr. O'Brien, with a friend, appeared at
the door and was Immediately recog-
niZed by The crowd in the vicinity. some
of whom raised a cheer while others
groaned. When the patrol sergeant
saw that Mr.. O'Brien intended taking a
walk he strongly urged him not to VEN
ture out on foot, as it was unsafe to do
so without strong escort of police.
This advice Mr.. O'Brien did not choose
to accept, so the sergeant with the other
two constableS followed to render all
the assistance in their power in case Mr..
O'Brien should be attacked. 1t soon
became apparent that Mr.. O'Brien had
chosen an untimely hour to walk abroad,
but instead of retracing his steps to the
hotel, which he could have reached in
safety, he turned down Bay street.
Here it was that few stones were
thrown and while the policemen were
endeavoring to keep the crowd i'll check,
Mr.. o Brien
TOOK TO HIS HEE
and ran till he reached Taylor's shop on
Wellington street, through which he
passed to the rear, eventually gaining
his hotel by the back premises, which
he did within ten minutes from the time
he started out. The mob continued to
throw stones and broke the windows of
Taylor's shop, the darkness preventing
the constables from seeing who were the
aggresSOrS. Had the crowd really in
tended to lay violent hands upon Mr..
O'Brien they could have done so with
out serious opposition, but such does
not appear to have been their purpose.
and it is believed their object was to
brighten him more than anything else.
After Mr.. O'Brien had made good his
escape the crowd reassembled in front
of his hotel and continued cheering and
singing till midnight, when they quietly
dispersed. Such, in brief, is what oc-
Cured so far as Mr.. O'Brien
was concerned. In conclusion /
would say that if the gentleman
who left word at police head
quarters of Mr.. O'Brien's movements
Tuesday had given any intimation OF
his programme, an ample force of police
would have attempted to protect him
wherever he went. The statements
that have appeared i'll print as to the oc-.
currenceS of Wednesday evening have
been much exaggerated, and am afraid
are calculated to give undue importance
to what, under ordinary circumstances,
would not have been regarded as very
serious matter, though it is much TO be
regretted that Mr.. O'Brien was not per-
mitted to come and go without interfer-
ence from the citizens of Toronto. who
are usually so peaceful and law-abiding.
L have the honor to be, sir. your obedi-
e ntServant, Ii. j. GRoSSETT.